Automatic prescription drug dispenser

• US 20030093181A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mendota Medical Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mendota Medical Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Rosenblum, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 6,766,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/232
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An automatic prescription drug dispenser including a remote dispenser, a prescription entry system, and a communications network. The remote dispenser transmits and receives information from the communications network and dispenses prescription drugs to the patient. The prescription entry system transmits and receives information from the communications network and provides an input system for the doctor to electronically enter individual prescriptions for each patient. The communications network coordinates communications between the doctor, insurance carrier, and the remote dispenser. The remote dispenser stores, retrieves, and labels prescription drug and over-the-counter products directly to patients through a remote automated vending machine, a remote dispenser, a prescription entry system, and a communications network. The remote dispenser transmits and receives information from the communications network and dispenses prescription drugs to the patient. The prescription entry system transmits and receives information from the communications network and provides an input system for the doctor to electronically enter individual prescriptions for each patient. The communications network coordinates communications between the doctor, insurance carrier, and the remote dispenser.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

entering a patient prescription for a therapeutic product into an electronic input device;

electronically sending prescription information from the input device to a dispensing apparatus holding a plurality of therapeutic products in containers; and

the dispensing apparatus automatically labeling a container holding the prescribed therapeutic product in accordance with the prescription so that the container specifies at least the patient'"'"'s name and dosage instructions obtained from the prescription, verifying the labeled container, and dispensing the labeled container to a user without a pharmacist physically present.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the containers are supported in the dispensing apparatus and a printer is brought to the location of a container and used to print labeling information on the container.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the containers have programmable labels, and the labels are programmed by computer instruction.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the programmable labels include a substrate including a programmable matrix of pixels that can be activated selectively to create substantially permanent printed indicia on the label.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the pixels are heat activated elements that change color upon activation, and the heat is applied through a matrix of resistive elements.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the container is square and the printer prints on at least one flat side of the container.

7. A method of dispensing therapeutic products to a patient, comprising:

providing a dispenser containing an inventory of the therapeutic products,

transmitting the proposed prescription to a central server,

adjudicating the proposed prescription into an adjudicated prescription,

authorizing dispensing of at least a portion of the adjudicated prescription out of the inventory in the remote dispenser if the adjudicated prescription includes at least one therapeutic product available in the inventory of the remote dispenser,

providing an authorization code unique to the adjudicated prescription,

receiving from the patient at the remote dispenser the authorization code, the dispenser labeling the therapeutic product with information unique to the adjudicated prescription, and

providing the available therapeutic product to the patient.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining a formulary.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the dispenser verifying a container of the therapeutic product before labeling the therapeutic product.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising the dispenser automatically verifying the labeled therapeutic product prior to dispensing the therapeutic product.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising monitoring with respect to the remote dispenser at least one of temperature, interruption to normal line voltage power supply, and physical access.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising displaying at least one of images, animation and audiovisual works.

13. A method comprising:

providing a dispenser holding a plurality of therapeutic products in containers;

a user selecting one of the therapeutic products;

the dispenser verifying that a container is the proper container for the selected therapeutic product;

the dispenser labeling the verified container; and

dispensing the labeled container to the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of therapeutic products include one or more products which require a prescription.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the dispenser verifying the labeled container prior to dispensing the labeled container.

16. A method comprising:

providing a dispenser holding a plurality of pre-packaged therapeutic products in containers;

a user entering input information into the dispenser to receive one of the plurality of therapeutic products;

the dispenser retrieving a given container presumed to contain the selected therapeutic product;

the dispenser verifying that the container is the proper container for the selected therapeutic product;

the dispenser labeling the verified container; and

dispensing the labeled container to the user.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the dispenser verifying the labeled container prior to dispensing the labeled container.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the dispenser verifies the container by scanning a bar code on the container.

19. A method comprising:

providing a dispenser having a plurality of rows, each row holding one or more containers of a single type of pre-packaged therapeutic product;

a user selecting one of the therapeutic products;

the dispenser retrieving a given container from a row which is presumed to hold containers having the selected therapeutic product;

the dispenser verifying that the container retrieved is the proper container for the therapeutic product selected by the user;

the dispenser labeling the verified container; and

dispensing the labeled container to the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the dispenser verifies by scanning a barcode on the retrieved container.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising the dispenser verifying that the label is proper before dispensing the labeled container to the user.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of rows includes the containers held within magazines.